Percolator pump



L. V. LUCIA PERCOLATOR PUMP July 4, 1933.

Filed Aug. 14, 1930 INVENTOR 0a/5 V uc/cz ATTORNEYS Patented July 4, 1933 Unirse s'mrfeisL orsi-CEv i Louis v. LUCIA, F ROME, nnw'vonxnssmnon "ro Riivnencorrn'annn BRASS inconiaoaa'rnn, a CORPORATION or MARYLAND p ienncoiilimon Pinar Application iednugust i4, 1930: serial No. ima/2;I

This invention relates to rpt-ircolators, and inoi'e particularly to the means for circulating the liquid therein. v

According to a prevailing practice in elechowever, have presented various-objectionsv from the standpoints of mechanical construc- 9 tion and effectiveness of operation.

It is the object of myv invention to provide a well structure in which thefarrange-r ment of parts and automatic control means are characterized by simplicity and accessibility of construction, certainty of operation,

and the promotion of a highly eective cir` culation.

The manner in which I accomplish the same will be understood from the'following f description taken in conjunction withthe' accompanying drawing, in which `Fig. 1 is a vertical crosssection of the device of my invention, and

F ig. 2 is a horizontal cross-section taken along the line .f- 2, Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawing, land iii partic= ular to Fig'. 1, reference numeral 3 desig-4 nates the pereolator body or receptacle mount-v ed upon a base l in any well known manner. a A heating and pumping well 5 is disposed within the receptacle 3, andis supported therein by connection with an annular elec# tric heating unit 6 of suitable type which is mounted upon a pair oit-postsl 7 in adja' cent but spaced relationship to the bottom-8 of thereceptacle 3, thev postsl 7 also servingv the heating.

as conduits for thelead wires to unit.

0 5 may be formed integrally with the heattric percolator construction, an electrically heated well is used, in which successive por-V The cylindrical body portion 9 of thefwellV ing unitcasing11,v or'itmay consist of a lseparate-section closely connected to the casing 11i by means oftting,fsoldering, partial screwthreading, vorin any other suitable manner. The bottom 12 of the-well `5 vis 55 formed with-an upturned annularrim 13 which deiines' an inlet opening 14 for-the entry of liquid from-the receptacle 3, 4and forms la seat-for a cooperating, concave valve or closure 15.

The top of the well is closed by a cupwasherior simi-lar closure l16, which carries a percolatortube 17 providing the well outlet 18 through which the heated liquid :froml the well is discharged. snugly fitted lto the body portion 9 to seal the well, aiidfis preferably detachably con-y Y nected therewith,either` by means of screw threads, latchingmeans disposed across thetop lof tli'efclosure and casingll, or inY any 70' other suitablemanneigin order to permit the unitary removalof the percolator tube and connected valve means for' the purpose oi" cleaning for repair:

TheI valve: head is deta'chably connected 75' with a st-em 19, either by means-of a screw bolt cooperatingiwith a .bore in the enlar ed end 20 or4 the stem or in anyA other suita le manner, lwhich stemA reciprocates in the percol-atortufbe 17 andsuitably limits the 'lat- 80 eralmovement ofV the valve head with respect to thevalve seat 13. Y i

T he stem 19 isl flat inshape and as thin as -is compatible with Vgiving it sufficient strength, in orderfto minimize obstruction to the lowo'f liquidtlrrough theioutlet18 and thepercolator ,tube17 into which the stem eX- tends.

To prevent separationof the' stem i and4 valve head vromthetube when fthe latter is lifted out, lateral projections 21 are providedV atthe-upper-end of the stem, which is formed iii theshape cfa flat -T forthat purpose, and a narrow, i inwardly proj ecting shoulder 22 is spun or otherwise formed at the bottom edge ofthe tube. It desi-red,- similarprojections mayY besecured -crosswiseof the top ofY the'T, .as'shown for eXainpleinFig. 2.1

The `operation of the device is substantially as follows z-#The hydrostatiopressure ofrthev 1GO This top closure is 65 head of water or other liquid in the receptacle 3 will continually tend to force the valve head 15 upwardly, and permit liquid to enter andA fill the well. Y

When the pressure in the well is insufficient to resist this tendency, liquid will enter the well, substantially filling the same, and

will then be rapidly heated and partially` The pressure in the well will be reduced byV reason of the discharge of the heated liquid and vapor through the percolator tube, and when it finally reaches the point Where it is insufficient to withstand the external pressure upon the valve head 15 exerted by the maj or body of liquid in the receptacle 3, the valve will be automatically lifted off t yie seat 13 and a fresh portion of liquid will flow into the well for he ating. y

The construction and arrangement of parts embodied in the invention herein described provides a very effective and advantageous valve-controlled heating well. v

The location of inlet opening 1/1 at 'the bottom of the well, and in slightly spaced relationship from the bottom of the receptacle 3, assures continual application of the heat to the coolest'portion of the liquid in the percolator, where its application is most desirable. The. provisionrof a single large inlet opening facilitates the inflow of liquid.l and materially reduces the possibility of sedimentation and obstruction favored by the use of small openings. l

The construction and arrangement of the valve 15 renders it freely movable and responsive to the pressure control, and its eonnection with the removable top unit through the medium of the percolator tube, renders it readily removable for cleaning or repair'. It will be noted further, that this provision for removal specifically'involves` those parts ofthe well construction which contain the most crevices and diicultly accessible parts, elements which present a considerable obstacle to cleaning or repair while they are in position in the percolator. Upon the removal of this top unit however, all of these parts are brought within easy reach, and a practically unobstructed and accessible expanse of the body of the well is presented, which can be readily cleaned or otherwise treated in situ.

All of the constituent elements of the top unit can be detachably assembled in the unit to permit complete dissembly if desired. For

removal of the stem 19 with its enlarged head .21 from the percolator tube 17 for example,

provision may be made therefor, by making the bottom portion 23 of the'tube 17 in a separate section from the upper part and connecting the two by a threaded coupling. The upper end of this bottom section when detached, will present an unrestricted opening through which the enlarged end 21 of the stem will readily pass, the valve head 15 first being detached from the other end of the stem.

` In further reference to the stem 19, the flat configuration to minimize obstruction to the flow through the tube 17, may extend overy the entire stem except for the provision of Va bored button or enlargement 2O at the end connected with the valve 15 where a screw bolt connection is used; or if desired, may be imparted only to the portion which extends into and slightly below the tube 17 when the valve 15 is resting upon the seat 13 as shown in F ig. 1, in which position Vthe principal flow of liquid through the percolator tube takes place.

Other changes and modifications may likewise be made aswill be apparent to one skilled in therart, without departing from the spirit of my invention.

While in the foregoing I have disclosed a preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that my invention is not limited thereto, but contemplates all such equivalent constructions and arrangements of parts as may fall within the scope of the following claims.

I claim as my invention :e-

1. A percolator which comprises, a recep-` tacle for liquid, a well within said receptacle adapted to contain a'v portion of said liquid, means disposed about the outside of said well for heating the liquid in said well, a valvecontrolled inlet at the bottom ofsaid welly for the introduction of said liquid thereinto, and outlet means in said well for the discharge of heated liquid therefrom.

2. Apercolator which comprises, a recep-l tacle for liquid, a well disposed within said receptacle adjacent but spaced from the bottom thereof and having an outlet and a bottom inlet, means for heating the liquid in said well, and means for periodically admitting liquid into said well through said bottom inlet and subsequently directing the effect of the pressure created by heating the liquid in said well to the discharge of the heated liquid through said outlet.

3. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle `for liquid, a well within said receptacle adapted to be immersed in the liquid therein and having an inlet opening in the bottom thereof, means for heating the liquid in said well, automatically operated valve meansy adapted to periodically open and close said bottom inlet, .and outlet means in said well forthe vertical discharge of the heated liquid from said well.

4. VA percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well withinsaid receptacle,

said seat forthe entry of a fresh portion of liquid to be heated when the pressure within said well is reducedl below theexternal pres'- sure `by the discharge of heated liquid through said outlet tube. A

5. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well within said receptacle adapted to contain a portion of said liquid, means for heating the liquid in said well, an outlet tube at the top of said well for the discharge of the heatedliquid, a valve seat at the bottom of said well delining an inlet through which liquid enters the well, and a valve within said wellradapted for verticalmovement-with respect to saidV seat to open orl close said inlet, the "position of said valvel with respect to the opening or closing ofsaidl inletbeing controlled by the pressure differential above and below said valve.

6. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well disposed within said receptacle in adjacent but spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, a valve seat 1n the bottom of said well defining an inlet, a vertically displaceable valve adapted to cooperate with said seat to open or close said A projecting inwardly inlet, an outlet tube in the top of said well, and a guiding stem connected with said valve and extending into said outlet tube to limit the lateral movement of said valve with respect to said seat.

7. A percolator which comprises a receptacle forliquid, a well disposed within said receptacle and spaced from the bottom thereor', means for applying heat to the Wall of said well, an outlet tube extending from the top of said well, a valve seat at the bottom of said well delining an inlet thereto, a valve adapted for vertically displaceabe engagement with said seat to open or close said inlet, a stem projecting from said valve into said outlet tube and limiting the lateral movement of said valve with respect to said seat, a lateral projection upon the portion of said valve stem within said tube, and a shoulder at the bottom edge of said tube adapted to cooperate with said projection to retain said stem within said tube.

8. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a. cylindrical well disposed t within said receptacle in adjacent but spaced relationship to the bottom thereof, heating means adjoining the wall of said well, an annular rim in the bottom of said well defining an inlet opening, an outlet tube at the top Aof said well, a vertically displaceable valve adapted to rest upon said rim in closing relationship to said opening, and a ilat stem connected withsaid valve and projecting into saidfvoutlet tube, said flat shape embracing tlratf'portion oflthefstein which extends into and slightly below said tube during the flow f* of liquid therethrough.

9. A percolator which comprises,

o a receptacle for liquid, a well disposed in said receptaclein spaced relationship to the bottom thereof and adapted to be encompassed by the liquid in said receptacle, an annularl rim in thebottom of said well delining an inlet opening,` means for applying heat to said well to' heat liquid therewithin, an outlet tube extending from the top of said well for the discharge of the heated liquid therefrom, and a vertically displaceable concave valve for periodically opening and closing said inlet, said valve `being automatically operated 1n pressure between the head f1? by the-difference of liquid in said receptacleand that created by the'heating and discharging of liquid in said well.

l0. A percolator which ceptacle `forliquid, a well tacle adapted to be immersed in the liquid therein, means for heating said well, an outlet tube at one end ot' said Well for the discharge of the heated liquid therefrom, an in* let in the end of said well opposite said outlet tube, and a valve for periodically opening and closing said inlet.

11. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well within said receptacle adapted to be immersed in the liquid having an inlet at one end thereof, means for applying heat to said well, an outlet tube comprises, a rewithin said recep- 'l therein at the end of said well opposite said inlet p end, and a valve for opening an d closing said inlet, the opening or closing of said said valve being automatically actuated by the pressure difference between the head of liquid in the receptacle and that created by heqting and discharging the liquid in the we l2. A percolator which comprises, a recep* tacle for liquid, a cylindrical well disposed within Vsaid receptacle and having the bottom thereof disposed adjacent but spaced from the bottom of said receptacle, an upwardly inclined annular rim in the bottom of said well defining an inlet thereto, an outlet tube at the top of said well for the discharge of liquid therefrom, a cup-shaped valve disposed within said well and adapted to be supported by4 M1-A close said inlet, a valve and extendlateral projection stem within said projecting inwardly at inlet by l said receptacle having an opening in its bot'- tom portion disposed adjacent but in spaced relationship to the bottom of said receptacle, a closure for the top of said member, a percolator tube mounted in said closure, a stem disposed withinrsaid tube and extending into said cylindrical member, a lateral projection uponV the portion of said stem within said tube, a shoulder projecting inwardly at the bottom edge of said tube, and a valve connected with the end of said stem which ez;- tends into said cylindrical member, said valve being adapted to cooperate with the bottom of said member to open or close said opening.

14. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle 'for liquid, a cylindrical member disposed within said receptacle with its bottom adjacent but in spaced relationship to the bottom of said receptacle, an annular rim in the bottom of said member defining an opening, a closure for the top of said memberV detachably attached thereto, a percolator tube mounted in said closure, a stem disposed within said tube and extending into said 'L cylindrical member, a'lateral projection upon the portion of said stem within said tube, a shoulder projecting inwardly at the bottom edge of said tube, and a cup-shaped valve connected with the end of-said stem which eX- tends into said cylindrical member, said valve being. adapted to be supported by and set within said rim to close said opening.

15. A percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well having an inlet in the bottom thereof communicating with said receptacle and an outlet, means well, and a valve disposed at the bottom of said well'for opening and closing said inlet, said valve being operated'by the differential in pressure between the inside and outside of said well.

16. AV percolator which comprises, a receptacle for liquid, a well having an inlet in the bottom thereof communicating with said re-v ceptacle and an outlet, means for heating said well, a valve disposed at the bottom of said well for-opening and closing said inlet, said valve being operated vby the differential in pressure between the inside and outside of said well, and means for retaining said valve in operative position with respect to said inlet.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

" LOUIS V. LUCIA.

for heating said Y 

